Carton lining machine



G. F. BURTON 2,216,586

CARTON LINING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY6041310 cm w ATTO NEY Oct. 1, 1940. G. F. BURTON CARTON LINING MACHINEFiled Jan. 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN Y Patented Oct. 1, 1940UNITED STTES PATENT cries CARTON LINING MACHINE Application January 13,1939, Serial No. 250,703

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a carton lining machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a carton lining machine ofthe type in which a formed lining is inserted into a carton and in whichprovision is made for spreading the flaps of the carton prior to theinsertion of the lining in a novel and improved manner whereby certaindifficulties formerly encountered in prior carton lining machines may beeliminated and a more satisfactory lined carton produced.

With this general object in view, and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the carton lining machine and in thevarious structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly defined in the claims at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a sufiicient portion of a lining machineembodying the present invention to enable the invention to beunderstood; Fig. 2 is a detail in side elevation, partly incross-section, of one of the flap spreaders arranged to engage one ofthe end flaps; Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the fiap spreadersarranged to engage the side flaps of the carton; Figs. 4 and 5 aresectional views in plan and front elevations respectively of a portionof the carton transfer mechanism and showing the fiap spreader for theremaining end .flap of the carton; and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views infront and side elevation respectively of the end flap spreader shown inFigs. 4 and 5.

In general the present invention in its preferred form comprises animprovement upon the carton lining machine illustrated and described inthe patent to Hiller and Joplin, No. 13,037,005, dated August 27, 1912,and contemplates particularly an improvement in the fiap spreadingmechanism of the machine. As shown in the Hiller and Joplin patent, theflaps were spread by a plurality of spring-pressed fingers, pivotallymounted upon a relatively fixed supporting member and in the operationof the machine, the fingers were spread by the engagement thereof withthe end of the descending forming block so that when the forming blockwas withdrawn, the spreading fingers would be released, and in beingreleased, the fingers would engage the extended sides of the unsupportedlining and bend them inwardly in a manner such as to cause a partialcollapse of the top of the lining. As a result of this partial collapseof the mouth of the lining trouble was experienced in the sub-' sequentoperation of filling the-package at the filling or weighing machine inthat some of the material at times fell between the lining and thecarton. Difiiculty has also been. experienced at the top closing machinefor closing the top of the lining.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a carton lining machinein which the flap spreader mechanism is constructed to be operatedindependently of the withdrawal of the carton forming block to the endthat the spreader fingers may be held out of contact with the cartonlining during the withdrawal of the forming block and thereby preventcollapsing of the mouth of the liner during such operation.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is illustrated asembodied in a machine for lining cartons, and except as to such detailsas are hereinafter pointed out, the illustrated machine may comprise anyof the usual forms of carton lining machines now upon the market,reference being made to the patent to Hiller and Joplin, above referredto, as disclosing the details of construction and mode of operation ofsuch prior art carton lining machines. Inasmuch as many portions ofthe'carton lining machine of themselves constitute no part of thepresent invention, it has been deemed sufficient to illustrate only suchportions of the carton lining machine as will enable the presentinvention to be understood. As is generally known, and as illustrated inthe above patent, these prior art carton lining machines are providedwith means for feeding the lining material from a continuous web and inthe operation of the machine, the lining is cut off to the proper lengthand positioned beneath a plunger or forming block 8. The lining blank issupported upon plates which are spaced apart sufficiently to permit theforming block to descend between them. As the forming block descends, itcarries the lining blank down with it and past mechanism which operatesto fold the blank around the block to form a lining bag thereon,

and, at the end of the descending stroke, the,

plunger deposits the lining formed thereon into a carton previouslypositioned beneath the block, whereupon the forming block is withdrawnleaving the lining within the canton.

Referring now to Fig. l, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention,the mechanism for spreading the top flaps of the carton prior to theintroduction of the forming block and its lining is positioned beneathand in alignment with the forming block 8, and may comprise a pluralityof pivotally mounted fingers, preferably four in number. As hereinshown, one pair of spreader fingers I0, I2 for spreading the side flapsI 4, I6 respectively, are arranged to be simultaneously operated throughmechanical means independently of any contact with the r'eciprocatoryforming block 8.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the spreader fingers I0, I2 arepivotally mounted in brackets I8, 20, which are fixed to vertical rods22, 24 respectively. The vertical rods 22, 24 are mounted for verticaladjustment in a fixed part of the machine frame, not shown, but whichmay comprise a portion of the supporting bracket for the mechanism whichwraps the lining blank around the forming block, as illustrated in thepatent to Hiller and Joplin above referred to. As herein shown, eachfinger I0, I2 is provided with an arm 26, 28 respectively, and thefingers are arranged to be rocked, to spread the flaps, throughconnections from a cam 30 mounted on a cam shaft 34 of the machinethrough bevel gears 36, 38, as illustrated. As herein shown, a lever 40,fast upon a rocker shaft 42, provided with a cam roller 44 cooperateswith the cam 30 to rock the shaft 42. The flap spreading finger I2 isconnected to the rocker shaft 42 by a lever 46 and connecting rod 48which is operatively connected to the depending arm 28 of the finger I2.The opposed spreader finger 10 is connected to the rocker shaft 42through connections including a lever 50, link 52, arms 54, 56, mountedupon an intermediate rocker shaft 58, and link 60 which is operativelyconnected to the upstanding arm 26 of the finger I0. The cam 30 isdesigned to operate the spreader fingers I0, I2 simultaneously, in timedrelation to the operation of the reciprocative forming block 8 so thatthe flaps I4, I6 are spread out of the way of the forming block with itslining during the descending stroke of the latter, as illustrated indotted'lines in Fig. 3. In operation, the fingers I0, I2 are retained inthis position until the forming block 8 has been withdrawn and until thecarton with its lining inserted has been transferred from the positionillustrated in Fig. 1 to an outgoing conveyor, as will be described,whereupon the fingers are rocked to the full line position illustratedin Fig.

3, above the carton flaps, to permit a succeeding carton to enter intothe lining receiving position as will be hereinafter described.

The remaining pair of flap spreaders 62, 64 for spreading the end fiaps68, 10 respectively, are, as herein shown, constructed and arranged tobe moved into and out of operative position with respect to thereciprocative forming block 8, by movable parts of the carton liningmachine, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention such movableparts may comprise the carton positioning and transferring mechanism ofthe machine including the carton pusher I2 and the carton aligning andtransferring pocket I4.

The flap spreading finger 62 is mounted upon andv arranged to be movedinto and out of operative position during the operation of the machineby the pusher mechanism, and as herein shown, the finger 62 may bepivotally, mounted in an arm I6 secured to an upstanding rod I8 which isheld in a bracket 88attached to the pusher plate I2. The finger 62 isprovided with a spring I5 which tends to rock the finger upwardly or inan extended position in the path of. the reciprocatory forming block 8as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. In the operation of the machine, thepusher plate I2 transfers the foremost carton in a line, formed on theincoming conveyor 82, and which has come to rest against a stop plate84, from a position on the conveyor 82 into the aligning andtransferring pocket I4, and in alignment with the reciprocative formingblock 8. During this movement, the finger 62 is in its extended positionand when the pusher comes to rest, the finger will be disposed in thepath of the descending block so that when the block descends, the fingerwill be moved to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 2 tospread the carton fiap. Thereafter, when the lining has been insertedand before the block has been withdrawn, the pusher is retracted,carrying the finger laterally out of operative position with relation tothe block so that when the block is withdrawn and the carton istransferred from its lining position, the finger cannot interfere withthe extended sides of the lining when the finger returns to its extendedposition under the influence of the spring I5.

As hereinbefore stated, the pusher plate I2 is arranged to bereciprocated to transfer the foremost carton from the incoming conveyor82 onto a supporting plate 86 and into the pocket I4 by which the cartonis positioned directly beneath and in alignment with the forming block8. As herein shown, the pusher plate I2 is attached to the end of aslide bar 90 which is mounted in a slide bracket 92 attached to themachine frame. The pusher I2 is arranged to be reciprocated in timedrelation to the operation of the forming block 8 by a cam 94 mounted onthe main cam shaft 34, through connections including a twoarmed lever,one arm 06 of which is provided with a cam roller 98 cooperating withthe path I80 of'the cam 94. The second arm I02 of the two-armed lever isconnected by a link I04 to a lever I06 fast on a rocker shaft I08. Asecond lever IIO, also fast on the rocker shaft I08 is connected by alink II2 to the slide bar 90 upon which the pusher plate I2 is mounted.Thus, during the operation of the machine, the finger 62 is carried intoand out of operative position with respect to the reciprocatory block 8.

The remaining flap spreader 64, for spreading the end flap I0 is mountedto be moved into and out of operative relation to the reciprocativeblock 8 by the engagement of the transfer pocket I4 during the movementof the latter to and from a position in alignment with the forming blockand a position over an outgoing conveyor II4 where the lined carton isreleased and by which 1 successive cartons are delivered from themachine. As herein shown, see Figs. 6 and '7, the finger 64 is pivotallymounted in an arm II6 fast on a vertical rod I I8 which is mounted in ahub I20 pivotally mounted on the shaft I22 supported in a bracket I24. Aspring I26 normally tends to hold the rod I I8 in a vertical position upagainst a stop screw I28 so that the finger 64 is held out of the pathof the reciprocative block and in the position illustrated by full linesin Fig. 6. The finger 64 although pivotally mounted is frictionally heldin any position to which it is moved by a spring I30 which urges thefinger against friction washers I32. In order to rock the hub I20 topresent the finger in operative position to spread the flap 10, the hubI2 is provided with an extension I34 which carries a clamping member I36to which a contact rod I38 is fixed. The contact rod I38 is normallydisposed in the path of the transfer pocket I4 so that in operation,when the pocket is moved to lining position, the side wall I of thepocket engages the contact finger and rocks the unit to present thefinger in operative position as shown by full lines in Fig. 5.Thereafter, when the block 8 descends, the end of the block engages thefinger and moves it to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 5 tospread the flap '10. The finger remains in this position until thelining has been inserted and the block fully withdrawn and until thepocket is moved whereupon the unit will be rocked back to its verticalposition by the spring I26. During its return movement the finger 64 isarranged to be reset to its extended position, as shown in Fig. 5, andfor this purpose, the finger is provided with a tail piece I42 which isarranged to engage a stationary resetting member I 44 which is fast inthe bracket I24.

The carton aligning and transferring pocket I4, as herein illustrated,is mounted upon a slide member I slidingly mounted in a bracket I52attached to the machine frame. The pocket is arranged to be reciprocatedin timed relation to the movement of the forming block 8 by a cam I54,mounted on the cam shaft 34, through connections including a cooperatingcam roller I55 carried by one arm I58 of a bell-crank, the second armI60 being connected by a link 162 to the slide member I50. One of theside walls, I64, of the pocket I4 is hinged and provision is made forrocking the side I64 to release the carton onto the moving belt I I4during the transferring operation and, to this end, an arm I68 extendingfrom the hinged wall I64 is provided with a cam roller I10 which isarranged to engage a stationary cam piece I12 mounted on the slidebracket I52 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. A spring I14 normally holds thepivotally mounted wall IE4 in its closed or carton engaging position.Thus, during the operation of the machine, the flap spreader finger 64is moved into and out of operative position by the movement of thetransfer pocket I4.

From the description thus far, it will be observed that none of the flapspreading fingers are dependent for their operation upon the withdrawalof the forming block 8 and that the fingers are either removed fromoperative position or held out of engagement with the extended top ofthe liner until the lined carton has been removed from lining positionso that the extended top of the liner cannot be collapsed by theresetting movement of the fiap spreader fingers thereby producing alined carton having the extended sides disposed vertically and in acondition more 55 suitable for the subsequent operations of filling andclosing the lining top.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton, and means for spreadingthe flaps of the carton to permit the block with its lining to entercomprising a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers, means for rockingthe fingers to spread the flaps, and means for resetting the fingers tooperative position for spreading the flaps of a succeeding carton, saidresetting means being operated independently of engagement with saidblock during the withdrawal of the latter whereby to preventinterference with the extended top of the lining by said. flap spreadingfingers during the resetting of the latter.

2. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton, carton moving meansincluding means for positioning a carton in alignment with said formingblock, means for subsequently removing the lined carton from operativeposition with relation to the forming block, and means for spreading theflaps of the carton to permit the block with its lining to entercomprising a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers, means for rockingthe fingers to spread the flaps, and means for resetting the fingers tooperative position for spreading the flaps of a succeeding carton, saidresetting means being operative after the lined carton has been removedfrom operative position with relation to said forming block.

3. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton, carton moving meansincluding means for positioning a carton in alignment with said formingblock, means including a movable pocket for subsequently removing thelined carton from operative position with relation to the forming block,and means for spreading the flaps of the carton to permit the block withits lining to enter the carton comprising a plurality of pivotallymounted fingers, one for each fiap, one of said fingers being carried bysaid carton positioning means and adapted to be moved out of operativeposition with relation to said forming block before the withdrawal ofthe latter, the opposed finger being mounted upon a movable supportadapted to move said opposed finger into and out of operative positionwith said carton flaps by the engagement of said movable pocket, andmeans for operating the remaining pair of opposed fingers including acam, designed to reset said remaining fingers after the removal of thelined carton from operative position with relation to the forming block.

4. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which the lining is formed, a support for thecarton, means for reciprocating the forming block to deposit the liningin the carton and to subsequently withdraw the block therefrom leavingthe top of the lining extending above the score line of the carton,carton moving means including means for positioning a carton inalignment with said forming block, means including a movable pocket forsubsequently removing a lined carton from operative position withrelation to the forming block and means for spreading the flaps of thecarton to permit the block with its lining to enter the cartoncomprising a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers normally extendedhorizontally above the top of the oarton flaps and adapted to be movedto spread the flaps during the descent of said forming block to insertthe lining and to be reset to operative position for spreading the flapsof a I succeeding carton after the removal of the lined carton fromoperative position with relation to said forming block.

5. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton and means for spreading theflaps of the carton to permit the block with its lining to enter thecarton comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers normallyextended horizontally in a position above the top of the carton flaps,at

least one of said fingers being yieldingly mounted and arranged tobeoperated by engagement with the forming block during its descendingstroke, and means for moving said one finger out of operative positionwith relation to said block prior to the Withdrawal movement of thelatter whereby to prevent said one finger from collapsing the extendedtop of the lining after said forming block has been withdrawn.

6. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton, and

means for spreading the flaps of the carton to permit the block with itslining to enter the carton comprising a plurality of pivotally mountedfingers normally extended horizontally in a position above the top ofthe carton flaps, at least one of said fingers being yieldingly mountedand arranged to be operated by engagement with the forming block duringits descending stroke, a horizontally reciprocated member upon whichsaid one finger is mounted, and means for reciprocating said memberadapted to move said finger into operative position during thedescending stroke of said block and to withdraw said one finger prior tothe withdrawal movement of the block whereby to prevent interferencewith the extended top of the lining by said one finger during its returnto its normal horizontally extended position.

7. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently Withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton, carton moving meansincluding means for positioning a carton in alignment with said formingblock, means including a movable pocket for subsequently removing thelined carton from operative position with relation to the forming block,and means for spreading the flaps of the carton comprising a pluralityof pivotally mounted fingers normally extended horizontally in aposition above the top of the carton flaps, at least one of said fingersbeing frictionally mounted and arranged to be rocked to spread itscarton flap by engagement with the forming block during its descendingstroke, a movable support for said one finger adapted to move the latterinto and out of operative position with relation to said block byengagement with said movable pocket, and means for resetting said onefinger to its horizontally extended position during its movement out ofoperative position with relation to the block.

8. A carton lining machine having, in combination, a reciprocatoryforming block about which a lining is formed, means for reciprocatingthe forming block to deposit the lining in the carton and tosubsequently withdraw the block therefrom leaving the top of the liningextending above the score line of the carton, and means for spreadingthe flaps of the carton to permit the block with its lining to enter thecarton comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers normallyextended horizontally in a position above the top of the carton flaps,at least one of said fingers being frictionally mounted and arranged tobe rocked to spread its carton flap by engagement with the forming blockduring the descending stroke of the latter, a movable support for saidone finger, means for moving said support to present said one fingerinto and out of operative position with relation to said block, andmeans for resetting said one finger during its movement out of operativeposition with relation to said block.

GEORGE F. BURTON.

